Brain telephone



C. H. VlGGARS ET AL BRAIN TELEPHONE Filed Dec. 21, 1921 INVENTOR. Was/7 075/0/7 5 Vanda/'4 Char/es V/gyflrs By 707% ZMZ ATTORNEYS.

.Angeles, in the Patented Mar. 2Q), 1923.

WASHINGTON B. VANDERLIP AND CHARLES H. VIGGARS, OF

LOS ANGELJES, CALI- roams.

BRAIN TELEPHONE.

Application filed December 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, \Vnsmxorox B. \Yxxnnnmr, and CHARLES King of Great H. YicoAns, a subject of the Britain, both residing at Los county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Brain Telephone, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the translation of sound vibrations to the brain of a person without the intervention of the car.

It has been found, that, if sound vibrations or vibrations of matter corresponding to the sound vibrations are concentrated upon the skull of an individual that these vibrations are translated to the brain and recognized as sounds. By providing proper ,instrumentalities to take advantage of this physiological fact, it is possible to hear without the aid of the ear, and thereby the deaf may be made to hear sounds. This invention relates. to apparatus especially suitable for transmitting vibrations corresponding to sound-vibrations to the skull. It is an object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which will be inexpensive, and efficient.

lVe accomplish this object by means of the embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an incomplete band with parts broken away to better illustrate the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of the band and an electroinagnet mounting; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the permanent magnet used in a receiver; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the ring mounting for a receiver unit; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a spacing rin Referring more particularly to the drawing, 6 indicates a band of thin flexible magnetic metal to girdle the crown of the head of the user. To fasten'it in position, a leather strap 7 having a buckle 8 is shown attached to one end, and a strap 2} with holes to be engaged by the buckle tongue is fastened to the other end. The means of securing the band 6 in position upon the head forms .no part of our invention, and it is understood that any means conducing to comfort of the wearer may be employed. The band is formed with arms 10, which a citizen of the Fnited States,

Serial No. 523,869.

may be stamped from the metal sheet and formed integral with the band, and then bent upwardly at right angles to the plane of the and. At the left of Fig. 1, opposing arms 10 are shown before they are bent. These arms are provided with slots'll to receive bolts. It may be found advantageous to perforate the band between the arms in order to provide a spot more responsiveto vibration. To this end we have shown four slits 12. Secured between opposing arms is a ring 1 1 of diamagnetic material, such as brass or copper. This ring has ears 15 with threaded bores to tending through the ring are holes 17 to permit th passage of screws 18 for thepurpose of securing thereto an arcuate permanent magnet 19. Threaded screw holes are provided in the permanent magnet to engage the'screws 18. Clamped between the magnet 19 and the ring 14 are pole pieces 20 having extending therefrom at right angles electromagnet cores 21 integral there= with. These cores are 'for electromagnet windings 22. The cores have their ends close to the band 16, the latter serving as a diaphragm. Fastening the ends of the cores 21 in position is a bridge of diamagnetic material 28. It is obvious that the cores of a receiver may be spaced from the band 6 to give the desired air gap by loosening the screws 16 and moving the ring 14: to or from the band 6.

In order to localizethe vibrations created 'n the band 6, contact spacing rings 24. are fitted over the inside of the band. These contact rings come into engagement with the head of the wearer and space the band allowing a freer vibration of the band at each receiver unit. A contact ring is conveniently secured ,in position by means of ears 25 which register with the arr'ns 10 on the band and have screw slots 26 to permit the passage of the screws 16. It is also understood that these contact rings may be of metal, felt, or any other suitable material.

In the device as shown herein, a band has been illustrated with three receiver units. It is understood that asingle unit or a multiplicity of units may be mounted upon the band as experiments and the peculiarities of the particular individual indicate, will produce the most eflicient results. The receivers may be connected in series or in parallel receive cap screws 16. Ex-

g' 1,449,oa2

as desired. The instrument shown is inmounted on said band so as to vibrate said tended to be used with'a telephonic transdiaphragm.

mitter and if deslred amplifying devices, 2. In a device of the class described,'a rewhich are well known in the telephone art. silient flexible band of magnetic material 20 In such a system theair vibrations are transadapted to embrace the head, and an electro- 'lated into electrical vibrations, which are magnet mounted on said band soas to vi-' by means of t'he receiver translated into mebrate the latter as a diaphragm. chanical vibrations directly upon the skull In Witness that I claim the foregoing I of the user of the instrument. As has been have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th 25 before stated these vibrations are conveyed day of December, 1921. to the brain and the sound is heard. CHARLES H. VIGGARS. That we claim is:' In witness that I claim the foregoing 1. In a device of the class described, alhave hereunto subscribed my name this 14th flexible band constituting a telephonic reday of December, 1921.

ceiver diaphragm, said'band being adapted to embrace the head, and an electromagnet 'WASHINGTON B. VANDERLIP. 

